Check protector

ABSTRACT

A check protector including a base having a check receiving tray carried thereon and a floating chassis disposed over such base. Guide pins project upwardly from the base and engage the chassis to guide it vertically downwardly as it is moved downwardly against the force of biasing springs interposed between the base and chassis. A horizontal shaft is carried by the chassis and has a plurality of printing wheels mounted thereon for independent rotation, each of such wheels having printing numbers spaced about its periphery for selective alignment over the check. A lever is interconnected between the base and chassis and is formed on its free end with a handle for depression to urge the chassis downwardly toward the check tray to bring the selected numbers on the printing wheels into engagement with a check carried on such tray.

Unlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,828,664 Dikoff Aug. 13, 1974 {54] CHECK PROTECTOR 3,402,622 12/1968 LeGault.... 101/96 [76] Inventor: JosephK. ke, 59 9 emo a 3,57 .23 I197! Grenler lOl/99 Van Nuys Cahf' 91401 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey [22] Filed: Nov. 3, 1972 Assistant Examiner-William Pieprz Attorney, Agent, or FirmFulwider, Patton, Rieber, [2]] Appl. No.. 303,534

Lee & Utecht [52] US. Cl 101/19, 101/30, [5-7] ABSTRACT 51 Int. Cl B41k 3/08 A 9 3 P including a base having a check [58] Field of Search 197/6.7; 101/ 19, 20, 100, Celvlng y Carried thereoll and ng chasm 101/30, 99 110 posed over such base. Guide pms pro ect upwardly from the base and engage the chassis to guide it verti- [56] References Cited cally downwardly as it is moved downwardly against I the force of biasing springs interposed between the 2 962 PATENTS Oi/19 base and chassis. A horizontal shaft is carried by the 1 chassis and has a plurality of printing wheels mounted l g i thereon for independent rotation, each of such wheels d having printing numbers spaced about its eri her 1,103,063 7 1914 Lang 101/110 for selective alignment Over the check A g 3 1,982,453 11 1934 R' I01 20 2'1 10,797 x 101; terconnected between the base and chassrs and 1s 2,255,453 9/1941 Post 101/100 formed on its free end with a handle for depression to 2.6641115 l/1954 Schuessler l0l/l9 urge the chassis downwardly toward the check tray to 2,720,163 l0/l955 Shukal l0I/96 bring the selected numbers on the printing wheels into A; 2:32) engagement with a check carried on such tray. I S 6 a 3,147,696 9/1964 Smith l0l/l9 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures.-

P m nAummM I 3, 2 ,554

sum 1 OF 2 CHECK PROTECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The check protector of the present invention' relates to a device for conveniently printing a check in a manner that will discourage alternation or forgery thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art Presently known checkwriters are frequently rather comlicated in design and expensive to manufacture thus rendering the cost thereof prohibitive for smaller offices and low overhead operations. Further, check protectors have been proposed which include printing bars or printing wheels carried from a cover which is pivotally connected on one end from a base and is selectively lowerable on its free end to bring the printing numbers into engagement with a check supported on such base. Such an arrangement results in the printing numbers being moved through an are as they are brought into printing contact with the check thus frequently resulting in blurring of the printed number and, also, providing a relatively convenient arrangement whereby a forger may easily realign a printed and signed check in the printer for overprinting of the previously printed number to result in a larger sum showing on the check. Applicant is aware of the following US. Pat. Nos. 2,346,611, 2,517,354, 2,529,022, 2,851,946, 3,105,436 and 3,338,159.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The check protector of the present invention is characterized by a floating chassis which is guided vertically downwardly to carry number wheels supported thereon into engagement with a check received in a check tray mounted on a base. The chassis is guided throughoutits vertical travel by means of guide pin means to thus assure full engagement between the printing numbers carried on the printing wheels and the check supported in the check tray.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a check protector embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional views taken along the respective lines 2-2 and 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is anelev ational view, in enlarged scale, of the periphery of one of the numbering wheels included in the check protector shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7. of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 8-8. of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view, in reduced scale, of a check tray included in the check protector shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the check protector of the present invention includes, generally, a rectangular horizontal base 11 having a floating chassis 13 disposed horizontally thereover. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, respective guide pins 15 project vertically upwardly from the four corners of the base 11 and are received in the chassis 13 to guide vertical travel of such chassis. Biasing springs 17 surround such pins and engage the chassis 13 to normally urge it upwardly. Referring to FIG. 4 and still speaking generally, a wheel support shaft 21 is mounted transversely in the chassis 13 and has a plurality of independently rotatable number wheels 25 carried thereon. A lever 29 is pivotally mounted on one end and has its intermediate portion overlying the shaft 21 and terminates at its free extremity in a handle 31 which may be depressed to urge the wheels 25 and chassis 13 downwardly to engage theprinting wheels 25. with a check 35 (FIG. 1) disposed under such wheels thus resulting in printing on such check the sum for which the wheels have been set.

The base 11 includes a flat bottom wall 34 and is turned upwardly along its marginal edges to form an upwardly projecting peripheral wall 36, elongated slots 38 being formed centrally in the side walls 36 for receipt therethrough of the check 35.

The check protector may be constructed of any convenient material such as metal or tough plastic. Mountedcentrally on the base 11 and projecting transversely thereof and in alignment below the wheel mounting shaft 21 is a print support block 37 which is formed on its top side with serrations 39 for serrating the printed figures on the check 35.

Referring to FIG. 4, the chassis 13 includes a bottom wall 40 having upstanding end andside walls 41 and 42 projecting upwardly therefrom. Referring to FIG. 2, upwardly opening slots 43 are formed centrally in the chassis side walls 42 for receipt of the opposite ends of the wheel support shaft 21.

The wheels 25 include stamp wheel bodies, generally designated .45 (FIG. 5), which are formed about their peripheries with equally spaced radially outwardly projecting spokes terminating in flat stamp surfaces 47 which are spaced apart to define circumferential recesses 49 therebetween. Referring to FIG. 6, serrated stamping numbers 51 are formed on the stamping surfaces 49 for stamping the desired numbers on the check 35. Still referring to FIG. 5, the stamp wheel bodies are generally donut shaped to provide respective central designated 59, such bores opening along their lengths to one side of such wheel bodies. The indexers'59 cooperate with equally spaced axially projecting peripheral grooves 63 formed in the periphery of the wheel support shaft 21 to index the respective wheels 25 in the desired clocked position with the selected printing number 51 facing directly downwardly for appropriate printing of the .desired number on the check 35 when the protector is operated.

The indexers 59 (FIG. 5) include respective nylon ball elements 67 which are formed with integral projecting shafts 69 which project axially into the respective bores 57. Received within the bores 57 are respective coil compression springs 71 which fit telescopically over the shafts 69 and urge the balls'57 radially inwardly to selectively engage the grooves 65.

Projecting from the side of the stamp wheel bodies 45 opposite the side to which the bores 57 open are respective gears 72 which act as driven gears to drive the respective number wheels 25.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, indicator wheels, generally designated 75, are mounted adjacent the respective stamp wheel bodies 45 and are formed from circular flat stock forming an annular body defining a central opening 76 for receipt of the shaft 21 and having projecting tabs 77 at their radially outer periphery, such tabs 77 being bent over to project axially for receipt in the respective depressions 49. Referring. to FIG. 6, indicator numbers 79 are formed on the tabs 77 in diametrical opposition to the corresponding stamp number 51 for purposes which will be made apparent hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 4, mounted at one end of the number wheel support shaft 21 is a dollars wheel 78 for printing the dollar sign on the check. Mounted on the opposite end of such shaft 21 is a cents wheel 180 and mounted intermediately on such shaft is an and wheel 182.

Referring to FIG. 4, a courser wheel support shaft 81 projects parallel to the number wheel support shaft 21 and has its opposite ends journaled in respective bores formed in the side walls 42 of the chassis 13. Mounted rotatably on the support shaft 81 are respective courser wheels 83 which are formed on their circumferences with gear teeth for meshing with the driven gears 72 of the respective number wheels 25 whereby rotation of such courser wheels will rotate the corresponding number wheels.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the lever 29 is generally U shaped and includes a pair of parallel arms 85 and 87 which overlie the number wheel support shaft 21 and are formed intermediately with yoke portions 89 (FIG. 2) which accommodate the outer periphery of such shaft. The, rear extremities of the respective arms 85 and 87 are carried from a transversepivot rod 91 which projects coextensive with the support shaft 21. The closed end of the U shaped lever 29 includes a pressure plate forming the handle 31 and the underside of suchpressure plate 31 is perforated throughout with a pattern of perforations 95 (FIG. 3) which cooperate with respective upwardly projecting prongs 97 in an embosser plate, generally designated 99, whereby the signature on a printed check may be inserted between such pad and plate for embossing thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the check protector includes a relatively economical to manufacture and install inking ribbon device including a feed roll, generally designated l,'which has a roll of ribbon 103 rolled on a feed shaft 107 having a return knob 109 mounted on one end thereof. Referring to FIG. 3, the ribbon 103 leads beneath the number wheels to a take up roller 111 which has its opposite extremities journaled through bores formed in the opposite side walls 42 of the chassis 13. Referring to FIG. '4, a take up knob 113 is mounted on one end of the take up roller 111 and such roller is formed centrally with a pair of transverse bores 115 which are spaced apart a distance corresponding with the spacing of the legs of a conventional staple 117 so such staple can be utilized in anchoring the free end of the ribbon 103 to such roller 111.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the check protector of the present invention includes a cover, generally designated 121, which is generally in the form of a downwardly opening box fomed centrally in its top wall with a transversely extending semicylindrical raised arch for accommodating the top portions of the number wheels 25. The arch 125 is formed with a pluralityof viewing windows 177 spaced in alignment therealong to overlie the number wheels 25 for viewing of the indicator numbers 79 to-determine the setting of the respective number wheels 25. The cover 121 is also formed in its top wall with aligned longitudinal slots 131 for projection upwardly of the upper portion of the respective courser wheels 83. Additionally, the top wall of such cover 121 is formed at its opposite sides with longitudinal slots 133 and 135 through which the re- 1 spective arms 85 and 87 of the handle lever 29 project.

As best seen in FIG. 1, an index mark 136 is etched on one sidewall of the cover adjacent the check receipt wallsof such cover, an upwardly opening 'slot 141' (FIG. 2) being formed in one side wall 42 of the chassis 13 so, much rod will accommodate vertical shifting of the.chas sis.13. The cover 121 also includes a through bore 145 for projection of the ribbon roller shaft 107 (FIG. 4) and a vertical slot 147 (FIGS. 1 and 4) to accommodate vertical shifting of the take up roller 111 upon vertical shifting of the chassis 13'.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, projecting downwardly from the top wall of the cover 121 are a plurality of bosses 153 which are formed with downwardly opening internally threaded bores for receipt of mounting screws 155 projecting upwardly from the bottom wall 34 of the base 11. I

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 9, a check receiving tray, generally. designated 157, is provided for holding checks 35 to be printed and includes a rectangular frame forming a slider, generally designated 161, having a central window 163 for alignment under the printing wheels 25. The slider 161 is formed on its opposite sides with downturned longitudinal rails 165 and 167 between which are received the opposite side walls of the base 11 to maintain such sliders generally centered within the check protector. The slider 161 is further formed at its four comers with upstanding tabs 169 between which is received a hold down frame, generally designated 173. The frame 173 is also rectangularly shaped to form a central window 175 through which the number wheels 25 may act to print on the check 35. The hold down frame 173 is formed at its opposite side with turned up check lead-in lips 177 and at its forward extremity with a turned down lip 179 which hooks downwardly over the front of theslider 161.

In operation, a check 35 to be printed is inserted transversely between the slider 161 and hold down frame 173 as shown in FIG. 1 to position the check in its proper transverse position under the number wheels 25. The check may then be moved forwardly and rearwardly within the slots 38 (FIG. 1) thus shifting the tray 157 forwardly and rearwardly to align the check sum line 138 under the index line 136.

Once the check has been positioned with the line 138 aligned with the index line 136, the individual courser wheels 131 may be rotated to rotate the respective number wheels 25 to alignthe selected indicator numbers 79 in the respective windows 127 thus indicating alignment of the printing numbers 51directly below the support shaft 21. Accurate alignment is assured by the indexers 59 registering with the respective appropriate grooves 63 to releasably lock the respective number wheels 25 in the selected position with the de sired printing number 51 facing directly-downwardly. When all such courser wheels 131 have been adjusted to register the selected indicator numbers 39 in the respective windows 127, the handle 31 may be depressed to thus rotate the lever 29 counterclockwise about the pivot rod 91 as viewed in FIG. 3 thus causing the yokes 89 to engage the shaft 21 and cam it downwardly thus forcing the entire chassis l3 downwardly to contact the selected printing numbers 51 with the check 35. It will be appreciated that the force from the lever 29 is applied directly to the numberwheel support shaft 21 thus providing for directly forcing the printing numbers 51 against the ribbon 103 projecting thereunder thus pressing such ribbon firmly against the check 35 itself,

155 to remove the cover 121. The staple 117 (FIG. 8 may then be removed from the take uproller 111 to free the end of the ribbon 103 to be entirely wrapped up on the feed shaft. The feed shaft 107 may then be removed from the chassis 13 and discarded. A new feed roller 101 may then be brought into place and the ribbon 103 therefrom drawn beneath the wheels and secured to the take up roller 111 by means of a staple 117. it should be noted that the relatively straightforward procedure for changing the ribbon 103 enables unskilled persons to change such ribbons thereby eliminating the rather costly service of employing skilled persons for such task. Additionally, the relatively straightforward ribbon supporting device is economical to manufacture thus making it available at a relatively inexpensive price. a

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the check protector of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and convenient to use. Further, such protector prints checks in such a manner that alternation thereof by unauthorized individuals is discouraged sincev any alteration results in relatively it being appreciated that the serrations of such printing 7 numbers 51 and the serrations 39 in the brass printing block 37 cooperate to serrate the check paper.

Thereafter, the handle 31 may be released and the chassis 13 will be urged upwardly under the force of the respective biasing springs 17 to free the check 35 to be withdrawn from the check tray 157.

The check may then be signed by an authorized individual and the signature may then be placed over the embossing plate 99 and the handle 31 again pressed downwardly against the embossing plate 99 to emboss the signature on such check to prevent alteration thereof without ready detection by persons to which attempts are made to pass such check. It is important that the cover 121 is opaque and that the side opening slots 38 for receiving the check 35 are relatively small thus blocking the users view of the printing area beneath the number wheels 25 to thus prevent any unau-v thorized individuals for reinserting a printed and signed check and successfully aligning the previously printed numbers beneath the number wheels 25 to print over such numbers thus altering the sum appearing to a sum larger than that originally authorized.

As the ink in the ribbon 103 is used, such ribbon may conveniently be advanced in small increments by rotating the ribbon advance knob 113 to draw unused ribbon beneath the number wheels 25 as the ribbon is taken up on the take up roller 111. Further, since there are no ratchet mechanisms employed in the ribbon mounting device, if desirable, after the entire ribbon has been rolled up on the take up roller 111, such ribbon may be run under the number wheels 25 in the reverse direction by taking such ribbon up on the feed shaft 107. This feature may be of appreciable advantage when the entire ribbon 103 has been advanced to the take up roller 11 1 and it is discovered that there are no new ribbons 103 in inventory thus necessitating reuse of the previously used ribbon.

After the used ribbon 103 has been taken up on the feed shaft 107, such ribbon may conveniently be replaced by merely removing the cover hold down screws easy detection.

Various modifications and changed may be made with regard to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A check protector for printing a plurality of different size checks and comprising:

a horizontal base including a check support surface;

a floating chassis on said base for shifting from a retracted to a printing position;

biasing means interposed between said chassis and base and biasing said chassis away from said support surface to said retracted position;

guide means on said base and engaging said chassis to guide it through a vertical path as it moves toward said base;

a shaft projecting horizontally over said check support surface and carried non-rotatably by said chassis;

a plurality of number printing wheels carried from said shaft for independent rotation thereon, said wheels including printing numbers spaced about the peripheries thereof;

an opaque cover covering said printing wheels and mounted on said baseand formed with a horizontally extending slot;

a check tray interposed between said wheels and support surface and including a slider frame carried slidably in said slot beneath said number wheels for sliding transversely to said support shaft and parallel to said support surface to index a check carried therein under said printing wheels, said tray further including a hold down frame overlying said slider and formed with a central opening for projection therethrough of the lower peripheries of said number wheels, said slider and hold-down tray cooperating to form therebetween a transverse passage for selective receipt of said different size checks;

an actuator handle pivotally connected to one end with said base and operable upon depression of the free end thereof to drive said chassis toward said base to carry said wheels into a printing position adjacent said check support surface; and

said cover is formed on its opposite sides with aligned longitudinal check-receiving slots;

said slider frame projects on its opposite ends through said slots andis turned downwardly atits end extremities to form retaining rails for engaging the opposite sides of said cover and is further formed with spaced apart upstanding tabs for receipt of said check therebetween and'said hold down frame has its opposite extremities turned downwardly to fit over the sides of said slider frame to position said hold down frame thereon.

3. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said shaft includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves spaced circumferentially about its periphery and said protector includes:

indexors mounted in said number wheels and including plunger means releasably engagable with said respective grooves to releasably hold said wheels in selected positions.

4. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a printer ribbon carrier including freely rotatable feed and take up rollers mounted on opposite sides of said shaft means and projecting between said rollers. 1 5. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said guide means includes a plurality of upstanding guide posts mounted on said base; and

said biasing means includes a compression coil spring surrounding each of said respective guide posts.

6. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said number wheels include respective wheel bodies formed at their respective peripheries with circumferentially equally spaced radial depressions having printing numbers formed therebetween and indicator wheels formed with central discs having tabs formed at the outer peripheries thereof and pro-' jecting axially into said depressions, said vtabs including radially outwardly facing indicator numbers arranged diametrically-opposite the corresponding printing numbers and beingrecessed radially below the plane of the adjacent printing numbers.

7. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said number wheels include axially projecting driven gear wheels formed on their peripheries with gear teeth and said protector includes;

a courser wheel support shaft mounted adjacent and projecting coextensive with said number wheel support shaft and courser wheels mounted on said courser wheel support shaft and formed at their peripheries with gear teeth for meshing with said respective driven gear wheels. 

1. A check protector for printing a plurality of different size checks and comprising: a horizontal base including a check support surface; a floating chassis on said base for shifting from a retracted to a printing position; biasing means interposed between said chassis and base and biasing said chassis away from said support surface to said retracted positIon; guide means on said base and engaging said chassis to guide it through a vertical path as it moves toward said base; a shaft projecting horizontally over said check support surface and carried non-rotatably by said chassis; a plurality of number printing wheels carried from said shaft for independent rotation thereon, said wheels including printing numbers spaced about the peripheries thereof; an opaque cover covering said printing wheels and mounted on said base and formed with a horizontally extending slot; a check tray interposed between said wheels and support surface and including a slider frame carried slidably in said slot beneath said number wheels for sliding transversely to said support shaft and parallel to said support surface to index a check carried therein under said printing wheels, said tray further including a hold down frame overlying said slider and formed with a central opening for projection therethrough of the lower peripheries of said number wheels, said slider and hold-down tray cooperating to form therebetween a transverse passage for selective receipt of said different size checks; an actuator handle pivotally connected to one end with said base and operable upon depression of the free end thereof to drive said chassis toward said base to carry said wheels into a printing position adjacent said check support surface; and said opaque cover covering said chassis to conceal a check in said tray from the view of an operator whereby a check may be inserted between said slider frame and hold down frame and said tray slid to position such check under said wheels, said wheels selectively rotated to position the selected numbers over said check and said handle depressed to move said chassis downwardly toward said base to carry said printing wheels toward said check to engage said selected numbers with said check.
 2. A check protector according to claim 1 wherein: said cover is formed on its opposite sides with aligned longitudinal check-receiving slots; said slider frame projects on its opposite ends through said slots and is turned downwardly at its end extremities to form retaining rails for engaging the opposite sides of said cover and is further formed with spaced apart upstanding tabs for receipt of said check therebetween and said hold down frame has its opposite extremities turned downwardly to fit over the sides of said slider frame to position said hold down frame thereon.
 3. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said shaft includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves spaced circumferentially about its periphery and said protector includes: indexors mounted in said number wheels and including plunger means releasably engagable with said respective grooves to releasably hold said wheels in selected positions.
 4. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 that includes: a printer ribbon carrier including freely rotatable feed and take up rollers mounted on opposite sides of said shaft means and projecting between said rollers.
 5. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said guide means includes a plurality of upstanding guide posts mounted on said base; and said biasing means includes a compression coil spring surrounding each of said respective guide posts.
 6. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said number wheels include respective wheel bodies formed at their respective peripheries with circumferentially equally spaced radial depressions having printing numbers formed therebetween and indicator wheels formed with central discs having tabs formed at the outer peripheries thereof and projecting axially into said depressions, said tabs including radially outwardly facing indicator numbers arranged diametrically opposite the corresponding printing numbers and being recessed radially below the plane of the adjacent printing numbers.
 7. A check protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said nuMber wheels include axially projecting driven gear wheels formed on their peripheries with gear teeth and said protector includes; a courser wheel support shaft mounted adjacent and projecting coextensive with said number wheel support shaft and courser wheels mounted on said courser wheel support shaft and formed at their peripheries with gear teeth for meshing with said respective driven gear wheels. 